Chapter 297 The Man in the Painting
This was the first time Shang Ruyi had left the palace where she was recuperating since arriving at Jiangdu Palace.
As soon as she stepped outside, she immediately felt an indescribable sense of comfort. Jiangnan was indeed Jiangnan. Even before she saw any scenery, the breeze that greeted her was gentle and carried the fragrance of fresh grass, instantly warming her heart.
When she looked up, she saw the towering and majestic hall in front of her.
It is said that Jiangdu Palace was rebuilt by Chu Yang on the site of the former imperial palace of the Chen Dynasty after he destroyed Chen. The scale and layout are much larger than before. For example, Shang Ruyi has been staying at home almost these days, but she can still see the main hall from the window.
The main hall was built on a platform three zhang high, and the palace itself was several zhang high. There were wide secondary steps around it, which could accommodate carriages. From a distance, it gave people the feeling that they could ascend to the clouds and become immortals. The palace was perhaps a heavenly palace that was high above and beyond the reach of mortals.
This is the projection of Chu Yang's thoughts and spirit left in the human world.
That's how arrogant and conceited he is.
However, although Jiangdu Palace has such a magnificent main hall, it is still in the south. Since it was built on the site of the former palace of the Chen Dynasty, it naturally retains some of the features of the old palace.
For example, now Eunuch Yu led her down a flight of steps, through two gates, and into the inner palace.
This is a completely different scene.
The inner palace corridors suddenly narrowed, the surrounding palace walls were not high, and the palace gates were built in different fan and crescent shapes, which looked interesting and gave people a delicate and exquisite feeling; especially after entering a garden, the bluestone path underfoot was wet and smooth, the surrounding vegetation was lush and well-trimmed, and the whole path presented a pleasant feeling of winding paths leading to secluded places.
Shang Ruyi felt as if she were in some kind of paradise on earth.
Since waking up, Chu Yang has been sending people to take care of her clothes. She wears simple-looking but exquisitely luxurious black and white robes, and changes her woven feather fairy shoes every day, making her look elegant and ethereal.
In addition, the surrounding area is lush with flowers and trees, and is shrouded in a milky white mist.
Walking amidst such scenery, even Shang Ruyi herself felt as if she were a figure in a painting.
However, just as she was gazing at the beautiful scenery around her, and feeling as if she were in a heavenly palace, what she heard was the bloody sound of killing.
Listening to Eunuch Yu's words, Shang Ruyi finally understood the current situation in Jiangdu.
Chu Yang led an army of 400,000 men on this southern tour, of which more than 300,000 were soldiers. The rest included several thousand officials and their families, attendants, palace maids and eunuchs, and the largest force was the imperial guards led by Wang Shaoji.
The problem lies with these guards.
Most of these men were descendants of nobles, and many were brave and decisive soldiers selected by Chu Yang from the army. Normally, they guarded the imperial city and were already considered superior. After arriving in Jiangdu, they looked down on the old palace guards here. The little eunuch who came to report just now said that several imperial guards went to a restaurant in the city today and happened to encounter a group of old palace guards. They got into a quarrel over a few words and neither side would back down. Now, both sides have called in many people, causing a chaotic fight in the city. It is said that many people have been killed or injured.
Shang Ruyi frowned deeply: "How could such a thing happen? Doesn't even Lord Wang care?"
"he?"
Upon hearing the name Wang Shaoji, even though Yu Gonggong always wore a smile, he couldn't hide a hint of coldness in his eyes.
He said, "If he had taken a little responsibility, the Imperial Guards wouldn't have ended up like this."
Shang Ruyi sensed something amiss and said, "So, this isn't the first time something like this has happened?"
Eunuch Yu shook his head and said, "The Imperial Guards and the guards of Jiangdu Palace have clashed several times inside the palace, but because His Majesty and officials at all levels are there, things have never escalated. But once they leave the palace, they are not so obedient."
"..."
"These people run rampant in the city, oppressing the people, and those below dare not speak out against them."
The more Shang Ruyi listened, the more her brows furrowed.
She knew, of course, that Wang Shaoji was no good person. Back in Luoyang, he was known as a frivolous playboy, and his subordinates were even worse. However, while there were some reservations in Luoyang, these people became completely unrestrained in Jiangdu.
But wouldn't this exacerbate the conflict between the imperial court and the southerners?
If Chu Yang really wants to establish a foothold in Jiangdu, he must at least control his subordinates. If he allows Wang Shaoji and his men to continue like this, Jiangdu may follow in Luoyang's footsteps.
Just as she was feeling heavy-hearted, Eunuch Yu led her through a unique vase-shaped gate, and suddenly a huge garden opened up before her. A long corridor encircled the entire garden, and in the center of the garden stood a tree whose name she did not know. Its trunk was about the height of a person, and its branches and leaves were so lush that they spread out like a canopy. Among the emerald green leaves were scattered white jade flowers, and the branches were tied with ribbons of various colors, which hung down and fluttered in the wind, making it look extremely beautiful and dreamlike.
Shang Ruyi couldn't help but take a deep breath.
She had never seen such a beautiful scene before. What surprised her even more was that under the tree, there was a huge carpet that covered almost the entire garden. The person sitting on the carpet, leaning against the tree trunk, holding a wine jug in his hand, was tilting his head back and pouring the clear wine into his mouth. That person was Chu Yang.
He was dressed in a flawless white robe, with the belt loosely hanging from his hips. His collar was wide open, and his long, jet-black hair was casually tied up and draped over his back and shoulders. Wine spilled from his mouth, flowing down his chest and wetting his hair, but he didn't care at all. He even swallowed the wine and laughed loudly, his breath reeking of alcohol.
Those slender phoenix eyes were filled with the scent of wine, shimmering with light.
Shang Ruyi stopped in her tracks.
Then, she saw Chu Yang throw away the wine pot, raise a long sword from his side, and slowly draw it from its sheath. A cold light flashed in his eyes, and he squinted, staggered to his feet, and twisted his wrist to create a sword flower. His wide sleeves and robes fluttered, and he looked like a phoenix dancing in the air, elegant and dazzling, with a magnificence and arrogance that no one could imagine.
He wielded his sword while slowly chanting:
Cranes fly three thousand miles, yet spring flowers still bloom.
The shadows on the high platform are scattered, and I linger alone as the song ends;
The flowing waves send the moon away, never to return; the falling stars come with a smile...
At that moment, Shang Ruyi almost suffocated.
She and Chu Yang had only known each other for a short time, less than a year, but in that time they had gone through so much that now, whether she liked it or not, she was under his control. Even though she wasn't his person anymore, she was already extremely familiar with him.
However, even with such familiarity, she would still be amazed by his extraordinary appearance.
Just now, she felt like she was a person in a painting, but now, seeing Chu Yang like this, she realized that this was the real person in the painting.
Perhaps he truly is someone who is favored by God to the extreme.
But how long can this pampering last?
and--
"Sending the moon away never to return," "falling star"... Did he know how ominous these verses he recited were?!
Or has he already sensed something?
Just as Shang Ruyi was feeling extremely confused, Chu Yang saw them. A smile immediately appeared on his face as he staggered over and grabbed her wrist: "You've come."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi struggled for a moment, but couldn't break free from his grasp.
The eunuch Yu knelt down beside him and said, "Your Majesty, this servant has something important to report."
Chu Yang seemed not to hear him at all, and smiled at Shang Ruyi, saying, "It seems you have recovered. How are you feeling? Can you move around freely now?"
Shang Ruyi couldn't break free, but fortunately, there weren't many people around, so she could only let him hold her wrist tightly and said softly, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. The medicine Your Majesty sent these past few days has been very effective, and Ruyi is much better now."
"That's good,"
Chu Yang tightened his grip, as if trying to pull her into his arms, while repeatedly saying, "Come here, come here."
Shang Ruyi glanced at him, then at Eunuch Yu kneeling beside her, unable to speak. The latter was giving her a meaningful look. Shang Ruyi understood why he had insisted on bringing her along. After thinking for a moment, she obediently let Chu Yang pull her to the center of the garden.
Chu Yang kicked aside the several empty wine jugs, picked up a new one, and handed it to her.
"Come, drink with me."
"..."
Shang Ruyi frowned slightly, and speaking earnestly to this already drunk man, she said, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. Although I am able to move freely, I am not yet able to drink alcohol."
"Can't drink alcohol?"
These four words made Chu Yang frown. He looked at Shang Ruyi again, then suddenly smiled and tossed the wine pot aside: "Fine, if you don't want to drink, then don't."
He grabbed Shang Ruyi's hand and gripped the hilt of his sword.
Then he laughed and said, "Then, accompany me in a sword dance!"
"I--"
Shang Ruyi was about to refuse, but before she could speak, Chu Yang had already flashed behind her, wrapped his arm around her slender waist, pulled her into his embrace, and then lowered his head to whisper in her ear, "A sword dance between two people, this is also the first time for me."
"..."
"You must cooperate with me and not move around."
Shang Ruyi did not move, because at this moment, her heartbeat left her no time to move.
Aside from the man who caused her so much heartache, she had never been so close to any other man. Her back was almost completely against his chest, her waist was held tightly, and one hand was gripping the hilt of his sword. Their clothes fluttered, and they seemed like twins.
She trembled and said, "Your Majesty..."
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